Barcelona’s Bold Moves: Tackling Overcrowding and Over-Tourism with Increased Taxes and Housing Policies

Barcelona is taking decisive steps to address the growing concerns of mass tourism and overcrowding. In a bid to create a more sustainable tourism model, the city plans to raise the tourist tax for cruise passengers who stay for less than 12 hours. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to manage the influx of visitors and alleviate the pressures on local communities.

The decision to increase the tourist tax follows numerous protests from Barcelona residents who have voiced their frustrations over the overwhelming number of tourists. There have been several incidents where locals, in a bid to reclaim their city, sprayed water on tourists. These acts of defiance highlight the urgent need for measures to balance tourism with the quality of life for residents.

According to a 2023 Statista study, Barcelona welcomed approximately 3.6 million cruise passengers last year. This substantial number underscores the popularity of the city as a cruise destination but also the challenges it faces in managing such a high volume of visitors. The current tourist tax for short cruise stopovers is EUR 7 (THB 276.4) per day, which the city aims to increase to discourage short, superficial visits.

By raising the tourist tax, Barcelona hopes to encourage tourists to stay longer and engage more meaningfully with the city. The objective is to promote a more respectful interaction between visitors and the local environment, ensuring that tourism contributes positively to the city’s economy and cultural fabric. Longer stays are expected to reduce the high turnover of visitors, thereby easing the strain on city infrastructure and services.

Barcelona’s efforts to adjust the tourist tax are part of a broader initiative to foster a sustainable tourism model. The city aims to balance the benefits of tourism with the needs of its residents, ensuring that tourism does not come at the expense of local quality of life. By encouraging longer stays and reducing the number of short-term visitors, Barcelona seeks to create a more manageable and enjoyable environment for both tourists and locals.

In addition to increasing the tourist tax, Barcelona is implementing policies to phase out short-term apartment rentals by 2028. This measure is designed to alleviate the pressure on the housing market caused by the high demand for tourist accommodations. By reducing the number of short-term rentals, the city aims to increase the availability of housing for residents and stabilize rental prices.

While tourism is a major economic driver for Barcelona, the city recognizes the need to balance economic benefits with social and environmental impacts. The new measures are designed to ensure that tourism remains a positive force for the city, contributing to its economy without compromising the well-being of its residents. By managing tourism more effectively, Barcelona aims to enhance the overall visitor experience while safeguarding the interests of its citizens.